The best hotels in Turku

A word of warning to start with: you won’t want to leave this hotel. I even bought the same giant pillow for home that I had in my room, the same shower gel, and once extended my stay for another night simply because I couldn’t bear to go yet.

Frequently crowned Finland’s best boutique hotel, Seurahuone is full of carefully considered details and sits just on the edge of Turku’s city centre. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance between laid-back and luxurious, with interiors that blend the spirit of the 1920s with a modern touch. Pearls – a nod to the cheerful Roaring Twenties – appear throughout the décor. Each room is unique, with delightful touches such as elegant in-room cocktails available to purchase. The hotel’s plush beds and generous bedding deserve special praise.

The service here is exceptional: guests’ wishes are not only met but exceeded. For instance, the staff make their own foot salt, which you’ll find in the women’s sauna. The breakfast buffet is generous and creative, and there’s also the Scandinavian-style restaurant Gunnar and a gym.

Time Out tip: Hotel Seurahuone’s brunch has been voted Finland’s best for two years running. Expect a seasonal spread that might include goat’s cheese tart, varied salads and the house pancakes.

Address: Humalistonkatu 2

Expect to pay: Solo Twin for two with breakfast from €137 per night

Overlooking Turku’s Market Square, Hamburger Börs is the city’s most iconic hotel – welcoming guests since 1894. A few years ago, the 1970s-era building was completely demolished and rebuilt, while the original Jugend-style wing was carefully restored and joined to the new 272-room structure.

The hotel’s bright, high-ceilinged lobby makes a striking first impression, while the moody lounge bar beside it is the perfect place to linger over a drink. Rooms are modern and fresh, with some overlooking the square and others the inner courtyard. The most impressive are the suites and junior suites at the top of the building, complete with arched windows.

The extensive breakfast buffet includes around a hundred items – try the smoothie of the day, baked omelette and seasonal sweet treats. A fun touch: a blackboard introducing the staff with their own doodles.

Facilities include a gym, sauna and the Spanish-inspired restaurant Más. Guests can park conveniently in the Toriparkki car park, with direct indoor access to the hotel.

Time Out tip: Head up to Börs Katto, the rooftop bar famed for its quality cocktails and panoramic city views. There’s both an indoor lounge and an outdoor terrace, with DJs playing at weekends.

Address: Kauppiaskatu 6

Expect to pay: Standard room for two without breakfast from around €120 per night

Bob W is a Finnish concept sitting somewhere between a hotel and an Airbnb. In Turku, it enjoys a prime location right by the Market Square, close to everything. The atmosphere feels distinctly Danish – minimalist, thoughtful and quietly stylish. There’s no traditional reception desk, but WhatsApp messages sent ahead of your arrival set the tone, and a personalised, playful welcome note awaits in your room. You’ll feel genuinely looked after.

Rooms come equipped for both short and longer stays, with a comfortable bed, table, chairs and a small kitchenette. Everything’s been carefully thought through, with some lovely extras too: when friends popped by, a beautiful tray and bowls made serving snacks easy, and there were plenty of glasses to go round. The room types and sizes vary, so not all have the same perks. Parking is simple in Toriparkki.

Time Out tip: You’ll find fun extras to upgrade your stay – a borrowable gym pass and a Polaroid camera for capturing your trip’s best moments. Occasionally there are playful touches like stickers and a loanable tote bag.

Address: Eerikinkatu 12 C, Forum Block

Expect to pay: Comfy apartment for two from €79 per night

Once you had to end up here – now you get to. There aren’t many hotels in the world set in former prisons, but Turku’s Hotel Kakola is one of them, occupying the old provincial prison buildings on Kakola Hill.

From the outside, the red-brick complex surrounded by walls is imposing, but inside the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. The stylish lobby bar features chains and handcuffs as tasteful design nods to the building’s past, and the prison theme continues throughout – there’s even a fun activity for kids to spot all the jail references.

In the rooms, however, the prison feel is barely noticeable: several cells have been combined to create spacious, comfortable hotel rooms. The beds are a real highlight – it’s like sleeping on a cloud, and you’ll never want to get up. A few cell rooms have been kept with bars and bunk beds, and can also be booked – they’re particularly popular with families and hen or stag parties.

The hotel has 151 rooms and six suites, plus the wine bar Hilarius (try the ‘Elinkautinen’ cocktail!) and the restaurant Ruben, which also serves breakfast. Don’t miss the Kakola porridge and local juices.

Time Out tip: Just next door, Kakola Spa offers indulgence for adults, with several saunas and pools – the largest has an in-pool bar so you can sip your drink while you soak. Hotel guests get a special rate of €25 per person.

Address: Kakolankatu 14

Expect to pay: Standard room for two from €139 per night, breakfast included

The Aura riverside is the beating heart of Turku, and the Marina Palace – affectionately known simply as “Marina” – sits right on the water’s edge. It’s a prime spot for culture lovers, directly opposite the city theatre, Wäinö Aaltonen Museum and the new Fuuga concert hall currently under construction.

The hotel has 184 rooms, half with river views and bathtubs, the other half facing the city with showers. There are also four large suites with saunas, where Turku’s visiting dignitaries usually stay.

Be sure to set aside time for breakfast: order a custom omelette from the kitchen, sip a sea-buckthorn shot and enjoy the colourful, varied selection. Coffee and tea are served at your table. The hotel also features a fitness centre, three saunas, the Grill it restaurant, a spacious lobby bar and a popular summer terrace that often hosts free concerts. Staff are warm and attentive.

Time Out tip: Travelling with a pet? Marina’s got you covered. Your room will be prepared with a dog bed and treats, and you’ll receive a map marked with nearby dog parks. For an extra treat, you can even buy your pup a spa set.

Address: Linnankatu 32

Expect to pay: Double room with breakfast from around €120 per night

Park Hotel Turku doesn’t leave anyone indifferent – some fall instantly in love, while others find it a touch too much. Either way, it has to be experienced to be understood. This small, characterful, family-run hotel is housed in a Jugend-style villa by Puolalanpuisto park. Its leafy courtyard feels like a world of its own – a peaceful hideaway right in the city.

Originally built in 1902 as a shipyard director’s home, the villa has been Park Hotel for 30 years, maintaining its distinctive, richly decorated style throughout. Each of its 20 rooms is individually designed, with original artwork on the walls. The breakfast room is equally eclectic, filled with copper pots, plates, masks and silk flowers. Many regulars return again and again, always requesting “their” favourite room.

Service here is warm and personal – it genuinely feels like arriving at someone’s home. Breakfast highlights local produce, with plenty baked and prepared on-site. Rooms include minibars, and upstairs there’s a billiards table and a cosy reading nook. A charming garden sauna can be booked privately, and there’s limited parking in the courtyard.

Time Out tip: A few rooms come with balconies – and if you want the best of them, ask for the pink room. It’s a firm favourite among honeymooners.

Address: Rauhankatu 1

Expect to pay: Double room with breakfast from €125 per night

For something completely different, choose Bore. Moored on the lower reaches of the Aura River, the museum ship S/S Bore has twice been named Finland’s best hostel. Walking its corridors feels like stepping back in time – you half expect to hear an announcement over the loudspeaker, “Dear passengers,” as the ship gently sets sail.

Built in Sweden in 1960, Bore now houses 130 cabins for one to four guests and is permanently anchored outside the Forum Marinum maritime centre. The location is ideal for those arriving in Turku by ferry – it’s just a short walk from the harbour, and Turku Castle is right next door.

This isn’t a luxury stay: cabins are minimalist, even a little austere, but full of charm. Nearly all have private bathrooms. The 24-hour reception is staffed by students from Turku Vocational Institute, which operates the hostel. Onboard you’ll find a kitchenette, library, laundry facilities and luggage storage. Bed linen (to make your own bed), towels and breakfast are all included in the price. In summer there’s also a café on deck.

Time Out tip: Bore is a museum ship too – buy a ticket and explore its onboard museum, including a visit to the bridge for sweeping views over the Aura River.

Address: Linnankatu 72

Expect to pay: Single cabin from €50 per night